The abundant life – A Different Kingdom – Monday, 9 October

Although we live in this world, as believers, we are not of this world (John 17:16).  We are citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). When you visit a foreign country you soon realize that they have a different way of operating – they use a different currency, they may drive on the wrong side of the road, speak a different language, and have different customs. Overall, they have a different culture and a different way of thinking.
 
Likewise, the world has a different way of thinking in comparison to the way God thinks. Isaiah 55:8-9 shows us that God’s thoughts are higher than ours. In God’s kingdom, there is a culture and way of thinking that is radically different to that of the world.

 

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Romans 8:6 NKJV

 
Carnal-mindedness isn’t just referring to sin; it’s speaking about being focused on the physical – what you experience with your five senses. It’s being dominated by the way the world thinks. We live in this world, and so we need to consider what we experience with our five senses, but we need to realize that we live by a higher reality – the reality of faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). Faith will never make sense to the carnal man, but to the spiritual man, it’s natural.
 
Spirit-mindedness, according to Jesus, is being Word-minded (or kingdom-minded) (John 6:63). Being spirit-minded is thinking like God thinks and seeing things like He sees them. When we’re carnally-minded it equals death (in all its forms, including sickness) – it doesn’t tend toward death, it results in death. When we’re spiritually-minded the results are life and peace. The natural by-product of being kingdom minded is life (John 10:10) and peace.
 
Whilst we live in this world, we are not of this world, and while we live in this world we need to maintain our kingdom culture and make sure that we don’t fall into thinking like the world. The Bible says that, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). How you think is of vital importance to your well-being. If you think like the world, you’ll experience the fruit that the world does, but if you think like God thinks you’ll experience the abundant life!
 

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.”
Romans 12:2 TLB

We will only truly live satisfied lives when we embrace God’s way of thinking.
 

“Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ERV

 
You become like the people you hang out with. With all the influences of the world, it’s easy to settle down to the status quo and start thinking, acting and seeing things like the world.  Thinking kingdom (Word) isn’t normal in this world. If you’re going to think like God, you’re swimming upstream in this world, but it’s far more rewarding!
 

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2 KJV